Holiday Homemaking 2025 Episode 2
- Allison Weeks
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
12 Dates of Christmas
This episode of Holiday Homemaking features stories of home from Emily Baxter, Charity Gibson, Cara Semler and Bess Hawthorne. Below you will find links for their recipes, favorites and other resources mentioned in each segment.
Emily's Favorites & Traditions
Every year, when the first snowfall comes, Emily and her family stop whatever they are doing, make some hot cocoa, maybe a few cookies and sit down to watch Little Women together.
Favorites
Song: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus *Emily recommends this YouTube video from the Skit Guys
Movie: kids love Elf, but Emily's fav will always be the 90's version of Little Women
Christmas Recipe: Apple Ladder Loaf because it is so delicious and it reminds us that Jesus is the fulfillment of Jacob's Ladder, come down from heaven to make a way for us to be reconcilled to God.
Charity's Favorites & Traditions
Because Charity's family usually travels on Christmas, they recently started a tradition of having their little immediately family celebration after her children's Christmas program at school. They come home from the program to a delightful buffet meal of small bites and treats and celebrate together as a family.
Favorites
Song: Oh Holy Night
Movie: Recently her kids have discovered Home Alone and Charity loves watching them laugh and enjoy this holiday classic
Recipe: Peanut clusters and Almond bark coated Peanut Butter Crackers are a perinnial favorite. Charity made them growing up and continues to make them for her family to enjoy. Just mix equal parts white and chocolate almond bark, melt, and use to coat salted peanuts as well as peanut butter sandwich crackers.
Cara's Favorites & Traditions
Cara's family has lots of fun little traditions to keep Christmas well. On Christmas morning, they always bring the Baby Jesus to the nativity scene and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. They also wait to celebrate Christmas until Dec 25th and then observe the traditional 12 days of Christmas, celebrate Epiphany in early January and culminating in the Feast of Dedication in early February.
Favorites
Song: In the Bleak Midwinter
Movie: Elf
Recipe: Cara's family observes Advent in the month of December to not only grow their anticipation of the arrival of the Christ Child, but also to prepare a bit for the festivities of Christmas. Throughout the month they make cookies to celebrate different saint's days and rather than eat all the cookies, she freezes them to enjoy during Christmas. An all-time favorite are these Black Forest Cookies. Cara adds ¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips and ½ cup dried unsweetened cherries instead of the white chocolate chips.
Bess's Favorites & Traditions
Many families do a gingerbread house competition this time of year, but the Hawthorne Family does something completely out of the box... a Donut Snowman Competition! ☃️
How to Make a Donut Snowman
-set up a tray of donut holes, mini powdered donuts, candies, toothpicks, & pretzel sticks
-For a Traditional Snowman: Use a mini York Peppermint Patty and Mini Reeses Cup for the hat, a fruit roll-up for the scarf, pretzle sticks for the arms, orange tic tac for the nose, and mini chocolate chips for the buttons. Use Toothpicks to hold the body together.
But anything goes…get creative and make unique things! Dogs, Abominable Snowmen, Set up your snowman in a cute pose or with props like a sled or iceskating, etc.
Put them all on the tray as a fun centerpiece on the table!
Favorites
Song: Silent Night
Movie: Elf & Christmas Vacation ***The TV Version ONLY!***
Featured Writer: Kristen Howard, Skipping Christmas
Kristen Howard | homesweethome.blog